Azam Alawaidhi is an Instagram ambassador for the Middle East RIYADH: Saudi anime content creator Azam Alawaidhi has cemented his status as an Instagram ambassador and the go-to guy for all things anime and comedy. “I got a message from Instagram team that I have a meeting with them. I entered the meeting and they said, ‘Azam, we want to thank you for the content you post in our app, so for that, we want you to be one of our ambassadors in the Middle East,‘“ he said. “I felt as if I was in a dream. I went to talk to my mother and my family, and we sat laughing because the whole house was using Instagram, so it was a joke that someone living in the house with them had become an ambassador for the program,” he added. His hilarious sketches and anime-focused content have amassed him nearly half a million followers on the platform, and his following continues to grow. Alawaidhi pays great attention to detail in his videos. He dresses up as a different anime character for each video, a practice that requires significant effort from a creator who posts daily content. Alawaidhi told Arab News: “What distinguishes me from other anime content creators is that my clips are sarcastic and comedic, and sometimes I talk to the characters as if they were with me. I talk about anime stories in a way that makes the viewer enjoy any story I tell and follow the anime.” Alawaidhi’s passion for anime began at a young age. He recalls being 13 years old and eagerly searching for people his age to discuss anime episodes with but finding it difficult as not many were familiar with the medium at the time. This inspired him to start creating content, and his first video garnered 100 views, kickstarting his journey as an anime content creator. “I recognized that many people enjoy watching anime but often lack someone to discuss the episodes with, and I see my role as providing that platform for my followers to share their interest and engage with the content,” he said. Alawaidhi has been invited as a guest to many anime-related events, such as Geekcon 2024 in Kuwait, where he had a show called “Anas and Azam Show,” as well as Comfest 2023, also in Kuwait, where he did a video with a Japanese voice actor from “One Piece.” He continued: “I am the first Saudi to make a video with great anime voice actors and this is an honor for me. One of them is Kazuhiko Inoue, the voice actor of Hatake Kakashi in ‘Naruto,’” he said. Alawaidhi also collaborates with a number of Arabic content creators who share an interest in anime culture. For instance, he is currently working on a project with Emad Ramen, a foodie who specializes in anime cuisine, on creating a dish that Luffy, a character from the “One Piece” anime, would love. “I am excited about the Dragon Ball theme park that will happen in Qiddiyah in Saudi Arabia, and it’s a huge pride for all anime fans,” Alawaidhi said. The Dragon Ball theme park is an upcoming attraction being developed in Saudi Arabia by the Qiddiya Investment Co. It will be the world’s first and only Dragon Ball-themed park, covering over 500,000 square meters. The park will feature seven themed areas recreating iconic locations from the franchise, with over 30 rides and attractions, including a 70-meter tall Shenron statue containing a roller coaster. The park aims to immerse fans in the Dragon Ball universe with themed hotels and restaurants. Alawaidhi is also working on an anime store where he will sell merchandise with special designs for anime characters, such as paintings, t-shirts, and hoodies, but the name of the store is still under the wraps. “I’m working on something special for all anime fans and my fans, and I’m sure they will love the special designs.”